Chapter 21: Demonstration of Divine Power

When Song Nanting was dealing with Song Nanshan in Ning County, she noticed that her strength had grown considerably. Heaven had already given her a second chance at life and a space; giving her some extra strength seemed like no big deal. Besides, she had practiced a bit of self-defense with Lu Jian’an before, and now with this newfound strength, it was like a tiger with wings.

She swung the stick with almost all her strength, and at the moment it came down, she heard the sound of bones cracking. The small-time thug screamed and fell to the ground. The other thug hesitated for a moment, then angrily picked up a stone and charged at Song Nanting.

Her heart was pounding like thunder. Some things, once they happen for the first time, are bound to happen again. Starting from Song Nanshan, she was no longer afraid of anything. Anyone who tried to take advantage of her, one by one, she’d fight them off.

“Little woman, you’re pretty tough! If we don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t know who rules this street!”
“Chao, kill her!”
The thug on the ground was in too much pain to get up but kept shouting curses.

Song Nanting snorted coldly, raised the stick, and before the second thug could get close, swung it at him. But the second thug was ready; he grabbed the stick with one hand and grinned triumphantly at her, “Didn’t expect that, huh…”

But Song Nanting wasn’t intimidated. She pulled the stick sharply and kicked the thug right in the chest. The grin was still on his face when he was sent flying, crashing hard to the ground.

If the first hit hadn’t scared him, this kick filled him with deep fear. His chest felt like it was being torn apart, and he hunched over, curling up on the ground, sweating on his forehead.

“Chao, Chao…” The first thug dragged himself over on one leg, “Chao, what’s wrong with you?”

Song Nanting walked slowly up to them. The two thugs finally got scared, looking at her in terror. “W-what do you want?” they asked.

What did she want? They asked what she wanted—she didn’t want anything. Song Nanting smiled, “Do you know you were wrong?”

The two thugs hurriedly nodded.

She glanced at the sun; it was getting late. She didn’t want to linger, so she grabbed her bags and left decisively.

As for what would happen to those thugs, Song Nanting didn’t care. They wouldn’t die anyway; at worst, they’d have to lie in bed over the New Year and couldn’t cause trouble for a while. If she had the time, she’d have taken them straight to the police station. But then there’d be paperwork and records, and maybe she’d have to compensate for their injuries. Most importantly, she couldn’t let this interfere with her New Year’s Eve dinner.

When she got back to the guesthouse, Song Da Niang and Comrade Han were waiting at the door. Seeing her come back, they finally relaxed. “You went shopping?” Song Da Niang asked, pointing to the luggage bag.

Song Nanting nodded. “Yeah, I had too few things. I heard it’s very cold in the Northeast, and this afternoon the department store doesn’t require coupons to buy stuff, so I bought quite a bit.”

Song Da Niang and Comrade Han, seeing her look poor but carrying so much, didn’t ask where the money came from or how she bought everything. They were sensible—everyone had their secrets.

“Let’s go. The guesthouse kitchen is closed tonight, but we can borrow their stove,” Song Da Niang said.

Not many people were spending the New Year’s Eve at the guesthouse. The front desk clerk, bored, gave a few instructions and let them handle their own meal.

Song Da Niang said, “I went out early this morning. At noon, I bought some spicy stir-fried pork and hu-la soup from the state-owned restaurant. Later, I’ll heat it up to warm us.”

Comrade Han laughed, “I bought braised pork and lamb noodle stew. I didn’t add the noodles—just brought the broth. I’ll cook fresh noodles later.” He looked at Song Nanting.

Song Nanting lifted her lunchboxes. “Then our New Year’s Eve dinner is quite fancy. I also bought braised pork; we can really eat well tonight.”

The sun was already setting. Song Da Niang glanced at the gas stove and said, “I don’t know how to use this.”

“I’ll do it,” Song Nanting said. She opened the gas tank and lit the stove with a match, placing a pot on top and started heating the dishes one by one. The lamb noodle stew would be last; after boiling the broth, she added fresh hand-rolled noodles and cooked them through. She borrowed an enamel basin from the guesthouse and filled it halfway.

Song Da Niang said, “Let’s eat in their dining room. There’s no one else; it’ll be more comfortable than eating inside where the smell lingers.”

“Sure, outside is fine,” Comrade Han added. “We don’t have wine, so let’s just drink water.”

Each had a glass of water. Except for the lamb noodle stew, the other dishes stayed in the lunchboxes on the table.

Song Da Niang pushed the portion of braised pork meant for Song Nanting over. “One portion is enough. Keep the rest for later; it won’t spoil in the cold.”

Song Nanting refused, “Since we bought it, let’s eat more this New Year’s Eve. Six dishes are just right. If there’s any left, we can take it on the train. There’ll be leftovers every year.”

Seeing her insistence, Song Da Niang said no more and raised her cup, “Let’s toast and celebrate the New Year.”

Outside, night had fallen. A red lantern hung at the guesthouse entrance. Nearby family compounds echoed with joyful sounds of people celebrating the New Year.

Song Nanting raised her glass. This was probably the most special New Year she had ever had—no endless nagging, no Lu Jian’an’s company, but she did not feel lonely.

Drinking plain boiled water alongside the fragrant dishes, the three of them chatted as they ate, growing closer while finishing the reunion meal together. Auntie Song sighed, “If it weren’t for all the quarrels in my family, I’d have stayed in my hometown for the New Year. Being with family is really the best.”

After she spoke, she looked toward Comrade Han. “Comrade Han, why are you out during the New Year?”

Comrade Han sighed too. “I’m here on official business, but the timing was later than expected. I was supposed to arrive in the capital by the 30th, but got held up halfway.”

As for Song Nanting, she said she was going to the countryside, but both of them were curious why she would be traveling during the New Year. Usually, young educated youth sent down to the countryside wouldn’t leave before the New Year—they would usually leave afterward.

Song Nanting smiled and said, “Every family has their own troubles. Let’s not talk about that. Let’s just toast.”

Unlike the slightly downcast moods of the other two, Song Nanting’s heart was full of hope and excitement. If she were still in Ning County, whether staying at the Pan family or the Song family for the New Year, she wouldn’t have had a good time.

When she was with the Song family, she was always the one being scolded, and she never got to eat the good food. Later, when with the Pan family, Wei Dani said nice things, but during the New Year, Song Nanting was always the one busy with this and that. When they stewed meat or fried a chicken, she barely dared to eat a few bites, and in the end, the mother and daughter ate most of it.

Back then, she thought as long as someone was kind to her, it was enough. Looking back now, she realizes how foolish that was—to live like a fool just for a little intangible kindness.

If anyone deserved to be cared for, it should have been her. Why did the good food, good clothes, and good drinks never reach her? Unlike now, when she ate well and drank well and enjoyed herself to the fullest.

By the time they finished the New Year’s Eve meal, it was already past seven in the evening. After washing the lunchboxes and tidying up the kitchen, the three naturally dispersed. Even if fate brought them together, everyone still had their own lives.

Song Nanting went back to her room to rest for a bit, then locked the door and went out. On New Year’s Eve, the streets were still quite lively—children playing and making noise, couples going on dates.

But Song Nanting found the scene boring, so she went back to the guesthouse and buried herself under the covers for a deep sleep. Perhaps because of the campaign to destroy the “Four Olds,” even at midnight there were no firecrackers.

Song Nanting slept straight through until dawn. When Auntie Song and Comrade Han came to wake her to go to the station, she finally got up and saw it was already past nine.

While waiting at the station for the train, Auntie Song tugged at Song Nanting’s arm, “Xiao Song, look at that person.”

Song Nanting looked over—oh, it was someone familiar.